Feeler mechanism for looms



Oct. 24, 1933- c. RICHARDSON FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 28. 1932 mmw u w ll!!! I471 III/4 rill!!! IIIIIIII a! Ma a4Mman 40 8 aw w m& w W a 2% J! J. WUGWZ'OJ CLARENCE K/cHAzwo/v ffornegsI engaging the bobbin and a cooperating delicate Patented Oct. 24, 1933oi're STATES mama Pres? C -f FEELER MEEQHANESM FQR LOOMS ClarenceRichardson, Salem; N. H. I Application March 23,1932. Serial No. 601,46615 Claims. (oi. ism-23s) This invention relates to electrical detectordevices or feeler mechanisms for controlling the operation of looms inaccordance with thecondition of the weft or filling in the shuttle, andmy improved feeler device disclosed herein is adaptedfor use with bothsingle and double shuttle looms for arresting the operation of the loomwhen the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted and also forautomatic looms to initiate the operation of the weft replenishingmechanism which presents a fresh supply of filling to the weaving whenrequired. The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved,more reliable and more accurate feeler mechanism of this nature whichfunctions by pressure directly against the bobbin to close an electriccontact when the yarn on the bobbin has been reduced to a precleterminedamount.

My improved feeler device is adapted to function by periodicallyengaging the bobbin in the shuttle and automatically closing an electriccontact when the yarn on the bobbin has been reduced to a predeterminedamount. It will be understood that to perform'this function with accuracy requires delicate sensing mechanism for functioning of thecontact members. My invention gives particular consideration to thesetwo important features by providing for an accurate adjustment thereofto a fine degree without in any manner affecting the other parts ofthe'device. Another object of the invention is to provide a devicehaving such adjustments whereby its functions are performed with greateraccuracy and facility and resulting in the elimination of irregularitiesin the operation of looms and in the saving of large amounts of yarnwhich have heretofore been left on the bobbins.

' Other novel features and advantages of my invention reside inthecompact and substantial construction and arrangement of the'operatingparts of the device, the contacting elements preferably being elongatedrods substantially housed in tubular members and movable as a unittherewith without closing the contacts or movable relative thereto toclose the contacts, and cooper ating means for permitting adjustment ofthe rods and other means for holding the parts in the normal operativeposition.

50 These and other features of the invention will be best understood andappreciated from the fol-' lowing description of apreferred embodimentthereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which t Fig. 1 is a side elevation of aportion of an automatic loom showing my improved feeler device asapplied to use with mechanism; a I 1 V Fig. 2 is a sectional view takenon line 22 of Fig. 1; 7 1

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional viewthrough one of the feeler devicesshown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional viewthereof on line 44 of Fig.3; Fig. 5 is aside elevation the filling replenishing of a modified form of away; g

Fig. 6 is a sectional'view therethrough taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; r

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional the device, a portion ofthe housing'being broken View of a portion of the device shown inoperation on a bobbin; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7. V I 1 -Referringmore specifically to the drawings by reference characters, 10 indicatesthe lay or support for the shuttle box 12 of a 1oom,'the box beingalternately moved or kicked from the full line position of Figs. -1 and2 to the broken line position indicated at X by means of a rod. 14, asis well known in the art. The box is adapted to carry upper and lowershuttles 16 within which are the bobbins18, the bobbins, best i1-lustrated in Fig. '7, embodying cores of wood or the like on which iswound the yarn 20. In the loom illustrated in the drawings, one of myelectric feeler devices 22 is provided for each of the upper and lowerbobbins 18, the two devices being mounted on brackets 24-bolted to theopposite sides of the support 10.

I will now describethe feeler device 22Which I a rectly into the blockand the upper tube 36 being insulated therefrom by means of a bushing40,

of phenolic condensation product or the like, check nuts 42 and 44 beingalso provided tohold the members firmly threaded to the block. The tube34 slides within a bore through the-bottom of the frame 26 and the tube36 slides with in a like bore through a block 46 bolted to the frame at48 and the screw 50 serving as a binding post for a conductor 52.

The contact element 32 fits snugly within its tube and may be adjustedinwardly toward the element 30 by means of a screw 5% connected theretoand threaded into a bushing 56, in turn threaded onto the top end of thetube. The upper portion of the element 30 is of uniform diameter andfits with a close sliding movement within a bore in its tube. A collar58 is formed on the lower portion of the element 30 and the bore withinthe tube 34 is enlarged at 60 to receive this collar and a spring 62. AnL-shaped foot 64 is threaded onto the bottom or forward end of the tube34 and a bore therethrough provides for the reception of the bobbinfeeler portion 66 of the element 30, which portion projects forwardly ofthe collar and extends through the bore to provide a feeler point 67projecting outwardly of the foot 64 and beyond its forward surface. Thecontact element 30 is normally held in its outermost position by thespring62 and the block 38, with both tubes and their contact elements,is normally held in theforemost position by a spring 68 surrounding thetube 36. I v v The ,contactelement 32 may be adjusted by the screw 54 tovary the gap between the two contact elements and it will be noted thatsuch adjustment in nomanneraffects either of springs 62 or 68. Anothernovel feature of my invention is the adjustment of the contact element30 whereby to vary the amount of the feeler point 6'?prejectingoutwardly from the foot 64, it being understoodthat less pointis required for fine yarn than for coarse yarn. The means which I haveillustrated for the purpose comprises a wedge member 70 slidable withina bore '72 of the foot,

' the wedge being slotted at 74 and engaging oppositely disposed flats76 on the portion 66. I also preferably provide a screw threaded stud 78swi el d to. the W d at 0 or adjusting h latter as thestud is rotated.Itwill be readily appreciated that inward rotation of the stud fo es. the emen 30 i va dred the 33 91 9 point 5 631 0 811: Any Change au in thegap between the two elements by adjusting the serew 78 can becorrectedby adjusting the element 32. It will be seenthat the contactelement 30 isgrounded to the frame of the loom th ou h h m a etqrm a t ir te while the contact elernent 32is insulated thererom. f ih rt mavba oct db ousi 1 3 '79 secured to the frame by screws 81.

The ,operation of the device is substantially as follows. The feel er orfeeders 2 are so mounted that the point 67 and the relatively longbottomsurface 65 of the foot 64 are engaged by the adjacent bobbin whenthe box 12 is kicked toward acfeeler, the sides of the shuttle beingnocontact takes place therebetween. However,

when the yarn becomes sufficiently exhausted 'frame 26, the block 46being insulated from the from the bobbin, the point 6'7 directly engagesthe core thereof and, the pressure of the bobbin against the device notbeing relieved by engagement of the surface 65 with the yarn, theelement 30 will be forced inwardly or rearwardly and cause a contactwith the element 32. It will be understood that the contact thus made,operating through mechanism well known in the art and not a part of thisinvention, causes the shuttle to be automatically replenished with theyarn, as in Patent No. 1,549,008, or causes the machine to stop.

It will now be appreciated that the adjustment of the feeler point 67 isvery important since the efficient and economic operation of the machinedepends quite entirely on the amount of this point exposed. By the useof my fine adjustment of this point, the device can be so operated as toleave a mus relatively smaller portion of yarn on the bobbin than hasbeen heretofore possible, It will also be understood thatthefeelerpointrnust be adjusted to correspond t9 the size of the yarn being usedit efficient operation is to be sec ured and that my invention pro- 3vides for a most minute adjustment for this pur 100 pose. The adjustmentof the contact ga means of the element 32, also provides fo'r g reaterefficiency and especially since this adjustment in no manner affects theaction of the sp il 62 on the feeler point. The bobbin 18 is ordinarilykicked against the feeler device with a c onSider able shock and forthis reason the spring 62 be relatively stronger than the spring 63 andstill function with accuracy, since the engaging shock of the relativelyhard core of the bobbin against 3 the ieeler point 67 is suincient toovercome the sprin 82 before effecting movement of the rela tively heavyparts necessary to compress the spring 68. When the yarn is present onthe bob- 3 its bin this shock is absorbed thereby. V l. It will beunderstood that my inventioncan be embodied various forms and in Figs.and}; of the drawings I have illustrated one modified form thereof. Acontact element 82 is carried is within a tubular member 8a slidab lewithin the "1 base portion of a metal supporting frame 86. A foot 64,the same as shown in Fig. 3, is carried on the outer end of the tube 84and the element 82 is adjustable by means of a wedge therein, as a shownin Fig. '7. The member 84 also slides through a bracket 88011 the frame86 and is pro: vided with a stop collar 90 for limiting outward orforward movement of the member under the action of aspring 92. I V 7,9.

A second contact element 94 inthe former a iii) screw, is carried by aplate gfimounted on an in? sulation piece 98 carried by the member 8}collar 100 limits outward movement of the element 82, and a spring 101between the collarand an insulation bushing 1G3 serves normally to holdthe element 82 projected outwardly and out of contact with the element94. The element 82 is grounded to the frame86 and a conductor 105 isconnected to the element 94 through a bind ing post 107, a spring 189and a manger 111' in sliding contact with the plate 96, the bindi'ngpost being carried on the frame 86 by an insula tion piece 113. Theparts may be protected by a housing 115 secured to the frame by screws117. The operation of this form of the device issubstantially the sameas that shown in Fig. 3 and heretofore described. Pressure o'n the foot64: is adapted to compress the spring 92 andjnove the two contactsrearwardly as a unit, and inward movement of the element 82 relative tothe foot mally out of contact therewith, one element being grounded tothe support and the other being insulated therefrom, means connectingthe two elements for movement together, means whereby the engagement ofsaid point with the hard surface of a bobbin causes a direct engagingtogether of said contacts, and means adjacent to V and-disposedrearwardly of said point for engag- .of yarn is on the bobbin.

ing yarn on the bobbin whereby so to relieve pressure against the pointas to eliminate closing of the contacts when a predetermined amount 2.An electrical feeiercomprising a support, a tubular member slidablymounted therein, a contact element slidable within the member and havinga feeler point on one end thereoffor engaging a bobbin, a second contactelement on the support, and substantially coaxial with the firstelement, means including said member connecting the two elements formovement together lonfoot carried bythe tubular member and disposedrearwardlyof said point for engaging yarn on the bobbin, and meanspermitting the elements to yield to pressure exerted against said pointand foot without closing the contacts, the parts being so constructedthat engagement of said point with the hard surface of a bobbin causes adirect engaging together of said contacts.

3. An electrical feeler comprising a contact element having a feelerpoint on one end thereof for engaging a bobbin, a second contact elementcoaxial with the first element, a spring coaxial with and normallyholding the elements out of contact, a member adjacent to and disposedrearwardly of said point for engaging yarn on the bobbin, a secondspring coaxial of and permitting the elements to yield to pressureexerted against said point and member without closing the contacts, theparts being so constructed that engagement of said point with the hardsurface of a bobbin causes a closing of said contacts.

t. An electrical feeler comprising a contact element having a feelerpoint on one end thereof for engaging a bobbin, a second contact elethebobbin, means including a second spring per-- mitting the elements toyield to pressure exerted against said member without closing thecontacts, engagement of said point with the hard surface of a bobbinbeing adapted to cause a yielding of the first-named spring and closingof said contacts, and means providing for a relative adjustment of theelements to vary the gap therebetween without varying the tension on thefirstnamed spring.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1, plus means for adjusting thesecond element to vary the gap between the elements. I

6. An electrical feeler comprising a rod having a feeler point on theouter end thereof for enfto preset gaging abobbin, a contact elementcarried by the] rod,. asleeve slidablyv supporting the rod therein withthe contact point end projecting outwardly froma relatively long foot onthe outer end of the sleeve, a second Contact element, means includingsaid sleeve connecting the two elements. for movement togetherlongitudinally of the rod, a spring surrounding the. rod and normallyholding the first element out of contact with the second element, means"whereby the rod in y be adjusted inwardly to vary the amount, hereofprojecting outward from said foot, a1 1 means permitting the elements toyield e exerted against said point and foot without closing thecontacts, the parts beingfso constructed that engagement of said pointwith the hard surface of a bobbin causes a closing of said contacts. 1

'7. Anelectrical feeler comprising 'a support, two contact elements,means mounting the elements for unitary movement on the support andhaving a foot for ngaging yarn on a bobbin, a spring normally holdingone element out of contact with the other element, means for adjustingthe other element relative to the said one element to vary the gaptherebetween, a feeler member cooperating with the said. one element andprojecting outwardly of the foot, a spring normally forcing thefirst-named means to the limit of its travel forwardly toward said foot,the second-named spring permitting pressure. onv said foot to force thefirst-named means rearwardly without closing the contacts and movementof the feeler member inwardly of the foot being adapted to engage thecontacts, and means for adjusting the feeler member to vary the amountthereof projecting outwardly of the foot.

8. An electrical feeler comprising two contact elements in axialalignment, a spring acting axially on and normally holding one'elementout of contact with the other element, means for adjusting said otherelement axially relative to the said one element to vary the gaptherebetween. means supporting the two elements for unitary axialmovement and having a foot for engaging yarn on a bobbin, a feelermember cooperating with said one element and projecting outwardly of thefoot, and a spring normally holding the second-named means and elementsprojected toward the foot, movement of said member inwardly of the footbeing adapted to engage the contacts.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8, plus means for adjusting thefeeler member to vary the amount thereof projecting outwardly of thefoot.

10. In a loom, a shuttle box support, an electrical feeler disposed atone side thereof and comprising means having a foot for engaging yarn ona bobbin and carrying two contact elements in the feeler, a springnormally holding one element out of contact with the other ele- ..ent,means for adjusting the other element relative, to the said one elementto vary the gap therebetween, a feeler member cooperating with the saidone element and projecting outwardly 14,0 of the foot, a spring normallyforcing the firstnamed means to the limit of its travel forwardly towardsaid foot, the second-named spring permitting pressure on said foot toforce the firstnamed means rearwardly without closing the contacts andmovement of the feeler member in- I" wardly of the foot being adapted toengage the contacts, and means for adjusting the feeler member to varythe amount thereof projecting outwardly of the foot, the foot and memberbeing so located as to be engaged by the bobbin inthe shuttle when theshuttle box is shifted laterally toward the feeler. p p I I V 1' 1 Thecombination set forth in claim 10, in which two feelers are respectivelymounted on opposite sides of the support in positions to be engaged byadjacent bobbins when the shuttle box isshift'ed laterally toward thefeelers.

1 2. An electrical feeler comprising a support, a tubular memberslidably mounted therein and projecting outwardly therefrom, arelatively long foot on the outer end of the member, a contact elementextending through the member and having a feeler point projectingoutwardly beyond the foot, a second contact element connectedtothemember, a spring normally holding the ele ments out of contact butpermitting inward yielding movement of the first element and contactthereof with the second element, and a spring normally holding saidmember projected toward the foot but permitting inward yielding movementthereof without engaging the contacts, the foot and feeler point beingadapted to engage and sense abobbin.

l 13, The combination set forth in claim 12, plus means for adjustingthe feeler point to vary the amount thereof projecting outwardly of thefoot, and other means for adjusting the gap between the elements. 7

14 The combinationset forth in claim 12, in which the first element andsaid member are grounded to the support and the second element isinsulated therefrom and provided with indei, pendent conducting means.

1;}; An electrical feeler comprising a contact element having a feelerpoint on one end thereof for engaging a bobbin, means having arelatively long foot thereon and slidably supporting the element thereinwith the contact point end projecting outwardly from the foot, a secondcontact element, a spring surrounding and normally h ldin ma e eme t outf. cpn a i Wit t second element, alwedge' Ior adjusting the firsteleniefifihwe mv ma t eg j un iii req f p: 1; iw dfii m $3101 3 aYS'JVIQW i? 9 mbe'r jfor actua ng the wedge, and, means P mit n h $1. Dei t y dfiq p i' i' lrie exerted against said point and, foot withoutclos he qiii'e sb i m' -c n ;ip d h t enea' m fit of Sai int with the an1 face of a bobbin causes a closing of saidcontacts. v lfi Anele'ctrical fee1er comprising a Contact element having aieeler point onone end thereof f 'ri ie bbi me n h vin a. a es long foot thereon andslidably supporting the element therein with the contact pointendprejeee V outwardly from the foot, asecond contact elemerit, a springsurrounding and normally holdingthe first element out or contact withthe second element, a wedge for adjusting the first element inwardly tovary the amount thereof projecting outward from said foot, said wedge100 being slotted and engaging oppositely disposed fiats on andpreventing rotation of the element, a screw threaded member swiveled toand acting to adjust the wedge in opposite directions, and meanspermitting the elements to yield to pres- 165 sure exerted against saidpoint and foot without closing the contacts, the parts being soconstructed that engagement of said point with the hard surface of abobbin causes a closing of said contacts.

l iio CLARENCE RICHARDSON;

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